Bathhouses - Ontario Association of Social Workers

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Needs Identified from outreach volunteers/ workers to
provide more support to patrons.
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Initiated from a concept originally presented at the
Ontario 2007 Gay Men’s Health Summit: “Mr. Sexx A
Creative Approach to MSM HIV/STI Prevention” in
Chicago & Berkeley
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Pre-intervention stage: surveys, focus groups,
community development, intervention design, and
program visibility.
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Pilot Project - Bathhouse Counselling Intervention a.k.a.:
TOWELTALK
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Initially 4 Bathhouses: Spa XS, Steamworks, Central Spa
& Saint Marc’s Spa
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
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Licensed commercial venues
Highly sexualized environment
Cornerstones of HIV prevention in Canada since
the late 80’s
Sense of safety vs. Anxiety provoking spaces
Anonymity
Diverse communities of men
Mazes, glory holes, slings, pornography, music, low
lighting, metallic fixtures, etc.
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
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Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
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Place professional counsellors in a bathhouse to
support gay/bi men with the complex psychosocial issues we know are driving new infections.
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Assumption: Bathhouses present access to “hard to
reach” populations
› Therefore, we are providing counselling in a setting that
might be more comfortable and “safer” for some men.
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
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Provide professional assessment, counselling, and
referral service to men in bathhouses.
Provide an affirming, supportive experience related
to sexuality, sexual choices, and sexual identity
Foster the development of a supportive relationship
between the counsellor and the patron.
Support the sense of community developed
through existing community outreach programs.
Initiate a dialogue about the role that drugs and
alcohol may play in the sexual lives of men and
their ability to maintain sexual health.
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
1.
Program Advisory Committee (PAC)
a. Evaluation committee
b. Clinical Committee
2.
The Program
a. Bathhouse counselling shifts
b. Follow-up counselling (up to 8 sessions at ACT)
c. Streamline referral Network
3.
Program Supports
a. External clinical consultation at the Clinic for HIV-Related
Concerns at Mount Sinai Hospital
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
TowelTalk has two stages of intervention:
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Counselling Session at the BH:
Referral & Follow-up:
•Working with patrons;
•Walk-in model;
•Anti-oppressive, anti-racist,
sex-positive, harm reduction,
brief, solution focused and
motivational counselling;
•Time variable (10 to 45 min.);
•And focused on the
engagement stage of the
helping relationship.
•Referral to continued
counselling with BH counsellor
outside of the BH
and/or
•Referral to other community
partners.
•BH Counsellor to support
clients to access and use
appropriate services.
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
1.
Shifts
a. Shifts coordination (M2Men Network, scheduling, different
shifts.
b. 3 hrs
c. Joint shifts
1.
Sessions
a. Contact vs. session
b. Sessions 10 – 45 minutes
c. TowelTalk Data: forms
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
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Anxiety (HIV, Sexual
identity)
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Body image issues
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Risk Management
(empowering
disempowered men)
Depression
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Shame & Guilt
Difficulty negotiating
safer sex
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Self-Esteem
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Internalized
homophobia
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Bathhouse issues
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Unreasonable fear
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Loneliness/ isolation
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Mental Health Issues
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Numbers from April 2009 to April 2012:
2,251 contacts
 371 counselling sessions
 282 external referrals
 159 Towel Talk follow-up referrals
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Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Challenges:
 Boundaries
 Sexualized environment
› Setting
› Hitting on the counsellor
Single session model
 Counsellor’s background
 Community base intervention (substances,
sharps containers)
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Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Findings:
 Setting as a facilitator of the therapeutic
process
› Sexualized environment
› Nudity
› Anonymity
› Harm reduction and sex positive approach
In-depth understanding of diverse
populations.
 Trauma
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Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
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ACT
Clinic for HIV-Related concerns at the
Department of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai
Hospital
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care,
AIDS Bureau
Program Advisory Committee
Community Partners
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012
If you have any question regarding TowelTalk
please email :
[email protected] or call: 416.340.8484
ext 289
Towel Talk – OASW AGM May 2012